Liverpool youngster Woodburn named in Wales squad

Football Soccer Britain - Liverpool v West Ham United - Premier League - Anfield - 11/12/16 Liverpool's Ben Woodburn during the warm up before the match Reuters / Phil Noble

(Reuters) - Liverpool midfielder Ben Woodburn has been named in Wales’ squad for the first time ahead of their World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on March 24.

The 17-year-old Woodburn, who has made seven appearances for the Merseyside club this season, became Liverpool’s youngest scorer when he scored against Leeds United in the League Cup in November.

“He’s there on merit and we’re looking forward to having him on board,” Wales manager Chris Coleman told reporters on Thursday.

“He has done good things at Liverpool and everyone has been getting excited since he burst on the scene ... He won’t be daunted by coming with us.”

Coleman dismissed reports suggesting that he had picked Woodburn, who has represented Wales at youth level since he was 13, with the intention of preventing him from becoming an England player.

“It makes me laugh when people say we’ve got to get him in. If I thought it was too early for him I wouldn’t put him in because this is a big game for us. There’s no knee-jerk reaction to cap him,” he said.

“But I see him as a Welsh international and he’s good enough to be there. If Ben wanted to play for England there’s absolutely nothing we could do about that.”

Wales are currently third in Group D with six points, four behind leaders Republic of Ireland. Only the team that tops their group gains automatic qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.